How to get a vet prescription online

Buying your pet’s medication online can be confusing the first time you do it. The good news is that the process is simple, safe, and can often help you save money too!

We’re here to walk you through exactly how to buy prescription only veterinary medication online, what you’ll need from your vet, and what to look out for to keep your pet safe. 

Many UK pet owners are now choosing to order prescription medications online after receiving a prescription from their vet. Recent guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also highlighted the importance of helping pet owners understand that they’re free to shop around for their pet’s medication. 

Here are a few reasons why online pet pharmacies have become so popular. Many owners find it:

• More convenient
• Easier to reorder long-term medication
• Helpful for comparing prices
• Potentially cheaper than buying directly through a vet practice

For pets on long-term treatment, those savings can really add up over time. 

To learn more about prescription fees and potential costs, take a look at our article on how much is a vet prescription?

Step 1: Visit your vet

Before you can order prescription pet medication online, your pet will need to be examined by a vet. If treatment is needed, your vet will issue a prescription which includes details like:

• Your pet’s name
• The medication prescribed
• Dosage instructions
• Quantity
• The vet’s signature and practice details

Some medications also require regular check-ups before repeat prescriptions can be issued. 

Step 2: Ask for a written prescription 

You can ask your vet for a written prescription so you can purchase the medication online instead of directly through the practice. Vets will charge a fee for this prescription service, which can vary between practices. 

When you receive the prescription, it’s worth checking:

• The medication name is correct
• The dosage is clear
• The prescription hasn’t expired
• All pages are included
• Whether the original copy of the prescription is needed

Some veterinary practices prefer to send prescriptions directly to us themselves rather than providing a copy to the pet owner. This is quite common and helps prevent errors or fraudulent prescriptions. 

Step 3: Register your pet online

Create your Animed account and register your pet in 'My Account' under 'My Pets'. By adding your pet’s details to your account, we can match prescriptions accurately, speed up repeat orders, and help manage ongoing treatments more efficiently. 

Ready to get started? Register your pets and manage prescriptions online with Animed today!

Step 4: Post, upload or email your prescription

Once you’ve added the medication to your basket, you’ll be asked to upload your prescriptions during checkout, email, or post it to our team separately. 

To help avoid delays, please make sure that:

• All pages are included
• Images are clear and readable
• The prescription hasn’t expired
• The medication ordered matches the prescription exactly

If your vet is sending the prescription directly to us, your order will stay pending until the document has been received and approved. 

Step 5: Complete your order

Once your prescription has been checked and approved, buying your pet’s medication works much like any other online order. Usually, the process looks like this:

1. Add medication to basket
2. Post, upload or send your prescription
3. Enter delivery details
4. Complete payment
5. Wait for approval and dispatch 

Our team carefully checks every order before medication is supplied to help keep your pets safe. 

Sometimes a prescription can’t be accepted straight away but don’t panic, it’s usually something simple that can be fixed quickly. 

Common reasons include:

• The prescription has expired
• A signature is missing
• The medication doesn’t match the order
• The image uploaded is unclear
• Dosage details are incomplete
• The quantity ordered is different from what’s prescribed

If this happens, our team will contact you or your vet to explain what’s needed next. You may need to upload a clearer image, contact your vet for an updated prescription, or ask your vet to resend it directly. These checks are important because they help ensure medication is supplied safely and legally. 

If a website offers prescription-only pet medication without asking for a prescription, that’s a big red flag. Legitimate online pet pharmacies will always verify prescriptions before supplying regulated medications.

The RSPCA also advises pet owners to be cautious of unregulated sellers and counterfeit medicine online. When choosing an online pet pharmacy, always look for:

• Proper UK regulation and accreditation
• Clear prescription requirements
• Professional customer support
• Transparent contact details

Animed’s prescription checks and verification processes are made to ensure pets receive safe, genuine medication from trusted sources. 

What brands must have a prescription to buy online?

Many common pet medications in the UK are classed as prescription-only medicines (POM-V), meaning you’ll need a valid prescription before buying them online.

You can read through product information online before submitting your prescription.

Can an online vet write a prescription?

Under UK regulations, an online vet can only write a prescription if they have physically examined your pet and established a clinical relationship. Virtual or online consultations alone are not sufficient to legally issue a prescription.

To be legally valid in the UK, any prescription must:

• Be written and signed by a UK-qualified, RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon
• Require that your pet is "under their care", meaning the vet has physically evaluated them recently

Can I use the same prescription multiple times?

It depends on the prescription. Some prescriptions are issued for one-time use only, while others include authorised repeats.

Check:

• Whether repeats are listed
• How many repeats are allowed
• The expiry date

 If you’re unsure, our team or your vet should be able to help.

Do vets charge for a prescription?

Vets do charge a fee for providing a written prescription. The cost varies between practices and may depend on:

• The medication involved
• Whether repeat prescriptions are needed
• The length of treatment

Even with a prescription fee, many pet owners still find ordering online can work out cheaper overall. 

Find out more about prescription fees in our How much is a vet prescription article.

Ordering prescription pet medication online doesn’t need to be complicated. Once you’ve done it once, the process is fairly straightforward:

1. Visit your vet
2. Get a prescription
3. Upload or send it to the pharmacy
4. Place your order
5. Wait for approval and delivery

At Animed we’re committed to helping pet owners access safe, regulated medication conveniently and confidently by making the prescription process as simple as possible.